Building on years of experience in the restaurant industry, Ritzy Montaner Robert has operated the tamale business Cary Food Products since 2019. This company serves four stores, four restaurants, and various catering clients. Ritzy Montaner Robert took control of Cary Food Products after well over a decade of leadership by her mother.
One of the oldest foods still eaten today, the tamale dates back to prehistoric Mesoamerica (a region that stretches between modern-day central Mexico and northern Central America). Although historians disagree on the precise birthdate of the tamale, many have traced it back to between 7,000 and 8,000 BC.
Ancient people originally dipped tamale breading in food items such as stews and sauces. Over time, they began filling this breading with ingredients such as squash and meat. Early animal-based tamale fillings included turkey, iguana, and flamingo.
Mesoamerican cultures ranging from the Olmecs and the Toltecs to the Mayans and the Aztecs widely made and ate tamales. Tribal hunters and warriors often carried this compact food staple on long journeys.
